Simply put: society's stigma is still killing us. But this can change, and you can help. Accepting and promoting gender diversity and ensuring that transgender youth and adults are part of the fabric of our communities make the world brighter for everyone, transgender or not.

Gunner Scott is the executive director of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition, which has been selected as one of the grand marshals for Boston Pride. For more information, visit masstpc.org. Follow him on Twitter @mrgunnerscott and @masstpc.